Opinion: Why NIA Must Nab Arambai Tenggol “Commander” Now

June 8, 2025 – The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) arrest of Kanan Singh, a key leader of the Meitei militia Arambai Tenggol, on June 7 in Imphal has intensified calls for the immediate apprehension of the group’s Commander-in-Chief, Korounganba Khuman. Khuman faces far graver charges across multiple NIA cases, raising urgent questions about why he continues to remain at large. As a central figure in Manipur’s prolonged ethnic conflict, Khuman’s alleged crimes, coupled with his deep political patronage, critically underscore the pressing need for his arrest to restore public faith in the strife-torn state.

The Urgent Case for Korounganba Khuman’s Arrest

The recent arrest of Kanan Singh, described as Arambai Tenggol’s “army chief,” has cast a renewed spotlight on the NIA’s ongoing crackdown on the influential militia. However, Khuman, the group’s self-styled Commander-in-Chief, is implicated in a broader range of more serious offenses. These include leading armed assaults on security forces, orchestrating large-scale looting of state armories, and directing ethnic violence against Kuki-Zo communities. Numerous videos reportedly show Khuman heavily armed, camping alongside hundreds of Arambai Tenggol cadres wielding AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons. Merely possessing such a vast arsenal should, by law, warrant his arrest. Yet, authorities have consistently appeared to turn a blind eye to his alleged involvement in attacks on security forces, weapon looting, and extortion.

This is korounganba Khuman, C-in-C of militant group Arambai tenggol. The group has challenged all Central forces including the NIA against his arrest. pic.twitter.com/XquOUsI9kP

— Singh (@Duorope) June 17, 2024

Kuki civil society organizations—such as the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)—have long contended that Khuman’s continued freedom undermines justice and emboldens the militia’s unchecked operations. The NIA’s apparent failure to detain him, despite mounting evidence, has fueled accusations of selective enforcement and political complicity, particularly given Arambai Tenggol’s well-documented ties to influential Meitei leaders.

READ: Manipur Titular King Stands up for Militants as Imphal Burns

The ethnic violence that has tragically claimed over 260 lives and displaced nearly 70,000 people since May 2023 has been demonstrably exacerbated by Arambai Tenggol’s radical transformation under Khuman’s leadership. He is accused of converting the group from a socio-cultural outfit into a formidable armed militia, allegedly responsible for mass violence, widespread extortion, and political intimidation. With Kanan Singh now in custody, arresting Khuman is seen as essential to dismantling the militia’s command structure and curbing its significant ability to further destabilize Manipur.

NIA Cases Against Korounganba Khuman

The NIA is actively investigating Korounganba Khuman in at least two high-profile cases, which were controversially transferred from Imphal to the NIA Special Court in Guwahati on November 26, 2024, due to prevailing security threats within Manipur. These cases, meticulously detailed in NIA filings, implicate Khuman in serious violations under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Official Secrets Act.

• Case No. RC-03/2024/NIA/IMP: This case stems from an incident on November 1, 2023, at approximately 5:30 PM. Khuman allegedly led a large group of armed Arambai Tenggol members, conspicuously dressed in camouflage, Manipur Police uniforms, and black shirts, to the Palace Compound in Imphal East. This assembly reportedly followed a provocative Facebook post by Khuman, translated as, “Please come all brave brothers, let us teach them a final lesson today.” When confronted by Imphal East Police at the Palace Gate, the group allegedly fired upon security personnel, overpowered them, and proceeded toward Imphal West in multiple vehicles. The charges include armed rioting (IPC Sections 147, 148, 149), obstructing public servants (Section 186), disobeying public orders (Section 188), attempt to murder (Section 307), robbery (Section 379A), dacoity (Section 395), criminal conspiracy (Section 120B), intentional insult (Section 504), inciting public mischief (Section 505), criminal intimidation (Section 506), terrorist acts (UAPA Section 18), violation of the Official Secrets Act (Section 6(1)(a)), and unlawful possession of arms (Arms Act Section 25(1-B)). One associate, Mutum Rajesh Singh (aged 25), was arrested on November 30, 2023, in connection with this case, while Khuman remains at large.READ:

  READ: Imphal Under Curfew, Internet Cut After Arambai Tenggol Chief’s Arrest Sparks Riots

• Case No. RC-04/2024/NIA/IMP: This case details a subsequent incident on the same day, November 1, 2023, around 6:00 PM. Khuman allegedly led another armed group of Arambai Tenggol members to attack the 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion in Imphal. Armed and disguised in police and military attire, they reportedly entered through the northwestern gate, ransacked government offices, destroyed vehicles, and extensively looted arms and ammunition. They fled only after security reinforcements, including civil police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF, arrived. The charges in this case include armed rioting (IPC Sections 147, 148, 149), robbery (Section 379A), dacoity (Section 392), criminal conspiracy (Section 120B), terrorist acts (UAPA Sections 16, 18), unlawful possession of arms (Arms Act Sections 25(1), 25(1-A), 25(1-AB)), and violation of the Official Secrets Act (Section 6(1)(a)). Mutum Rajesh Singh was also arrested in connection with this second case, with investigations against Khuman ongoing.

In summary, the NIA’s cases accuse Khuman of orchestrating armed attacks on police, obstructing public servants, and systematic looting of arms—charges encompassing armed rioting, criminal conspiracy, terrorist acts, and impersonation in police uniforms.

“REMOVE CENTRAL FORCES AND WE WILL FINISH KUKIS IN A WEEK”
-Korounganba, Arambai Tenggol Leader.
He further exerts that his militias has 46 thousand trained Arambai Tenggol across all sectors. He even claimed to easily obtain state armouries to attack the Kuki people. pic.twitter.com/SVgeyvWF2c

— Alice Ngaipilhing (@haokip_alice) September 3, 2024

Background of Korounganba Khuman

Also known by his pseudonym Tyson Ngangbam, Korounganba Khuman emerged from a modest background as a government contractor before rising to prominence as Arambai Tenggol’s de facto operational leader. The group, formed in 2020 by Manipur’s titular king and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, initially began as a cultural revivalist outfit aimed at promoting the indigenous Sanamahi religion and Meitei identity. However, under Khuman’s command, it dramatically morphed into a radical armed militia following the outbreak of devastating ethnic clashes in May 2023.

Khuman’s public ascent gained significant visibility in September 2022 during an oath-taking ceremony held at Sanajaoba’s Imphal residence, attended by dozens of Arambai Tenggol cadres in coordinated black uniforms with the group’s distinctive Salai Taret logo. Since then, he has actively leveraged social media platforms, particularly Facebook, to mobilize Meitei youth, frequently posting images of himself posing with automatic weapons and issuing incendiary calls to action. As the self-styled Commander-in-Chief, he is believed to oversee thousands of AT members spread across 65 units, including two mobile offensive units, granting him vast operational control within the Imphal Valley.

READ: Arambai Tenggol Leader Arrested in Imphal; Protests, Clashes Erupt

Allegations Beyond NIA Cases

Khuman faces serious allegations that deepen the urgency for his arrest. He is accused of leading ethnic violence against Kuki-Zo settlements—burning homes, churches, and schools, and allegedly ordering killings, rape, and torture. For instance, a January 2024 incident in Moreh saw Arambai Tenggol members torch eight homes, two churches, and three schools under his command. Furthermore, reports point to widespread extortion and intimidation under his leadership, targeting businesses, political actors, and civilians. In a notable act of political coercion on January 24, 2024, Khuman convened 37 Meitei MLAs and two MPs at Kangla Fort, coercing them into endorsing a six-point charter against the Kukis, an event during which three MLAs were assaulted, with one requiring hospitalization.

Political Patronage Sustaining Impunity

Khuman’s continued impunity has been largely sustained by powerful political allies who have either openly supported or silently enabled Arambai Tenggol’s activities. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, the group’s founder and chairman, has consistently shown overt support. He not only attended the controversial Kangla Fort meeting where the militia dictated terms to elected officials but has also never publicly condemned the group’s violent actions.

Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is also widely believed to have extended significant personal patronage to the militia. Multiple accounts suggest he frequently hosted meetings with its leaders at his residence and turned a blind eye to arms loot by them in Imphal. Although Biren Singh did not attend the Kangla Fort gathering, he later endorsed the militia’s controversial charter of demands. Even after the imposition of President’s Rule and Singh’s resignation in late 2024, concerns about continued legitimization persist, especially following Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s February 2025 meeting with Khuman and another Arambai Tenggol leader, Robin Mangang.

This powerful political backing has allegedly shielded Khuman, allowing him to operate with apparent impunity even as the NIA actively investigates him for grave offenses.

Why Khuman Must Be Arrested Now

Khuman’s continued freedom poses a grave and immediate threat to Manipur’s already fragile stability. His leadership enables the rapid mobilization of Arambai Tenggol’s armed cadres, as dramatically demonstrated during the aggressive protests that followed Kanan Singh’s recent arrest. If allowed to operate unchecked, Khuman could orchestrate further violence against security forces and minority communities, escalating tensions and severely undermining any peace efforts. His asserted role in summoning lawmakers and dictating political terms—most notably at the Kangla Fort meeting—fundamentally challenges the foundations of democratic governance and the legitimacy of the state. Khuman’s arrest is, therefore, essential to reassert state authority and the rule of law.

Moreover, Khuman’s significant support among sections of the Meitei population, starkly reflected in the Meira Paibi protests, sharply contrasts with Kuki-Zo demands for justice, thereby widening the already deep ethnic divisions. This dangerous polarization threatens long-term reconciliation efforts in the state. Compounding the security threat is the continued circulation of thousands of looted weapons allegedly tied to Arambai Tenggol under Khuman’s command. The longer he remains free, the greater the risk of these arms being used to sustain the militia’s violent agenda, perpetuating a cycle of unrest. His arrest is not merely a matter of justice but a crucial step toward restoring law, curbing armed insurgency, and fostering communal healing in Manipur.

The NIA’s arrest of Kanan Singh represents a crucial step toward curbing Arambai Tenggol’s pervasive influence. However, given Korounganba Khuman’s central and alleged nefarious role in the militia’s militarization, the widespread ethnic violence, and blatant political intimidation, his arrest is non-negotiable. With President’s Rule currently in place and aggressive investigations ongoing, this moment presents a critical opportunity for decisive action. Detaining Khuman is key to dismantling Arambai Tenggol’s hierarchy, recovering the thousands of looted arms, and beginning the arduous yet necessary journey toward lasting peace in Manipur.